This system design is for partial greywater dispersal, such as the reuse of wastewater from a laundry and/or bathroom from several different sources such as houses, cabins or units in communities, caravan parks, hostels and mining camps or other buildings in small commercial enterprises.

For example, the system could be used to treat greywater from a number of cabins or units in a caravan park or from a block of units.

The GRS WaterClear Dripper System is well suited to combined greywater sources as the potential risk of disease-carrying organisms is markedly reduced by the use of an ozone generator in the system.

The WaterClear system is an adaptation and extension of the Watersave tank and dripper system. The structure of this system is the typical two tank system: a sedimentation tank and a pump chamber.

The sizing of the primary sedimentation tank greywater is calculated on the anticipated daily volume from multiple sources.

GRS WaterClear System

Greywater from the laundry and/or the bathroom from several sources will first pass into an appropriately sized settling or sedimentation tank.

Tanks are usually made from concrete or polyethylene (CT and GT series respectively). In all cases, the size of the sedimentation tank/s will have a capacity at least twice the daily volume, to allow for one day’s retention.

In the WaterClear tank system a safety overflow to the sewer line must be installed. This can be achieved either via an existing disconnector gully or a reflux valve. The greywater line (and thus tank) must be vented, and may share a common vent with the property sewer line.

Pump tank and ozone generation

After the greywater is allowed to settle for a day or so in a concrete or polyethylene tank, it passes into a pump chamber or tank.

As greywater passes into the pump tank and accumulates, a float switch activates the controller to engage a submersible pump and ozone generator to mix ozone and wastewater typically at 100L/minute.

The ozone generator is a corona discharge type and a venturi injector is utilised to inject the ozone into the greywater stream. Ozone is known to oxidise micro-organisms (including bacteria), viruses, fungi, protozoans and other organic materials, compounds and odours.

Greywater is mixed several times over before the controller activates the discharge pump for irrigation purposes.

A small amount of ozone remains in the water to enable some further oxidising function. However, ozone does tend to decompose easily to oxygen so it soon become harmless and is not present in any quantities harmful to humans.

Irrigation System

The recycled greywater will then be pumped to a network of substrata drippers (nominally Netafim pipe Tiran 17) in garden areas. When greywater is combined from groups of dwellings, the irrigation should be on areas common to be development, such as garden areas along fencelines or around buildings.

Irrigation will not be installed under lawn areas which are frequented and used by members of the public. A rotary K-Rain distribution valve can be used to shift water to different irrigation zones.

Documents

There are two documents for the WaterClear system- the “Installation and Specifications”, and the “Homeowners Guide to the GRS WaterClear System”.

Greywater Reuse Systems (GRS) became Water Installations Pty Ltd in 2007.
GRS still operates the part of the business that deals with the manufacture, supply and installation of greywater systems.
GRS have many systems approved for use in WA, some of which can be found at the retail outlet at Unit 1, 18 Wandeara Crescent, Mundaring.
Ross Mars is the Managing Director of Water Installations Pty Ltd.
He is a well-known Western Australian educator, writer and course and workshop presenter.
He completed a PhD in Environmental Science at Murdoch University in 2001.
His research centred on the use of native wetland plants to strip nutrients from domestic greywater.
Ross also has qualifications in Permaculture, and offers general Permaculture courses (Permaculture Design Course) as well as Accredited Permaculture Training.
Details of these can be found on his Candlelight Farm website.